Honduran woman flies in to celebrate her new life in Jesus with 15,000 of her friends
The 10-year anniversary service at the BI-LO center more than anything displayed the power of Jesus to change lives.
You saw that in the 360 people who stepped into eternity that day, and the thousands of others who wanted to celebrate how Jesus had touched their lives through NewSpring Church. You can see photos here and here and you can check out the reactions from some of the 15,000 in attendance on our Facebook page.
When we asked on our Facebook page how far some had traveled to share in the celebration, we expected some long drives from the midwest and west coast. But not HONDURAS.
We asked Adelfa Ortega to share her story with us. This is what she told us:
“I’m more alive than ever ... Since I was born, I had been going to church, and I kind of fulfilled the rules pretty well, so I thought I was OK. I was baptized when I was 14 and thought everything was OK. Then I don’t really know what happened, but I started going out (a lot). I started drinking, smoking, and everything was party time for me. I was good student, I woke up every Sunday to go to church (which was my concept of being a Christian.) ... I was having fun in a way, but I was so empty, so sad, and to me my life was nothing. ... I didn’t have a good reason to live. I thought about dying.
“I thought I was not good enough. That God had already given me so many chances. That he quitted on me. I thought I was not good enough for all this Christian thing, and on the other side, I saw all the other religious people. I could never make it. I am never going to fulfill all the rules and things they have. So I decided I was better just the way I was. ... I needed Jesus. I knew that, and I wanted him but he was just so unreachable for someone who was so unclean and unworthy like me. ... By the end of 2007, my dad was diagnosed with leukemia, and the doctors had only give him 3 months. That was it: I was destroyed completely.
“Almost all my family live in Florida. ... I was so desperate. I couldn’t deal with anything. So in 2008, I went to visit them, and one of my cousins was studying at Anderson, and she was going to NewSpring, so I went to visit her on a weekend, and she invited me. ... I put one step in that church, and I was officially speechless. ... I was in complete shock. It was the “You Asked For It” series, and I guess what he was talking about alcohol and Christians, and all the judgements that religious make, and I’ll never forget what he said, ‘Who was worse: Someone who drinks a beer, has a nice time with friends or family, leave a great tip and goes, or a “Christian” who is gossiping with their church clothes.’ I was like ‘who told that pastor my story?’ Then I knew it was him. It was God calling me back, letting me know that, yes, I had sinned. I was defeated. I had made many mistakes through all my life. But he was still there, full of love for me. That was it. God set me free of the chains that where holding me that day at NewSpring.
“I’ve been following you all online, and I really wanted to be there for the anniversary, and God gave the way. I made it, and it was one of the best days of my life. I was trembling since I got there, then the place was full, worship crazy, and I was shaking. Jan. 24 was a reconfirmation, over 300 people get save in one day! That was awesome. And God is full of love, and so faithful with me, and if heaven is going to be like that service at the BI-LO, I’m more than ready for everything. If it wasn’t for you all and your church I probably be dead by now, thanks for everything.”
We want to hear your stories of how your life has changed after meeting Jesus at NewSpring. Send them to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)